RALEIGH – While Jaromir Jagr smiles, the whole Ranger world smiles with him. And last night, No. 68 was beaming after the Rangers registered their third straight victory, this a convincing 4-1 triumph here over the Hurricanes.

“I thought we played great,” said Jagr, who celebrated his 35th birthday with a commanding performance. “We’re sticking together. We’re playing like a team.

“I don’t know what we were playing like before, but as long as we play like this, I think we’ll be fine.”

To appropriate Tom Renney’s words, the Rangers are still looking at tail-lights in the standings. They’re still in 11th-place, but the race is only beginning. They’re the equivalent of a baseball team one game out of a playoff spot on Labor Day.

The race is beginning just as the Rangers are beginning to play with chemistry and confidence. They’re taking care of the small things for the most part; keeping shifts short, making safe plays.

The puck is moving. The Blueshirts look quick. Last night they were quicker and harder on the puck than Carolina.

“We’re playing with a belief in our system,” said Henrik Lundqvist, who has allowed one even-strength goal in the last 206 minutes, 42 seconds and who has surrendered two goals or fewer in 10 of 12 straight starts since Jan. 13 “Everyone is fitting into and accepting their roles.”

Prior to Saturday night in D.C., the Rangers had gone 5-for-44 on the power play stretching back 12 games. They’re now 6-for-9 over the last two matches after clicking on all three of last night’s opportunities. The two-platoon system in which the Jagr unit works the puck and the Brendan Shanahan unit pounds it, has been a life-saver.

“When I was playing with Shanny, it was two different styles,” Jagr said. “Now, we have one unit that’s comfortable playing one way and the other that’s comfortable a different way.

“It’s not that one way is right and the other is wrong. It’s that we have players in positions where they’re more comfortable doing what they do best.”

That includes Matt Cullen, who finally has gotten the call to play the point on the Shanahan unit. Not only is he flourishing in that role, he’s playing better hockey five-on-five. There’s zip to his game that’s only been evident in fits and starts.

“There’s no question that my confidence is higher playing the point,” said Cullen. “It also helps me stay in the game.

“I’m not criticizing, but with our rotation, I could go four or five minutes without being on the ice. Now, I get a better feel for the puck. I get to carry it more. It’s been helpful for me.”

Of all the changes the Rangers have made, the promotion of Dan Girardi nine games ago is as important as any. Paired with Fedor Tyutin, the young defenseman has played with poise. A calming influence, he’s been on for only one even-strength goal against.

“He’s been terrific; he’s the type of player who understands where the puck needs to go before he gets it,” Renney said. “He’s an intelligent young player who reads the game. He plays like a veteran would.

“He and Fedor make for a young pair worth investing in.”

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Jagr on Peter Forsberg’s trade to Nashville: “I wish we could have gotten him, but no way we could give up young players like Nashville did. I’m glad he’s in the other conference.”